Featured Bible Study - The Gospel according to Matthew

Hello, God bless you all!
I was looking for the "Bible Study" forums in the sense like a forum for the Books of the Bible and the chapters so we can discuss about them, I haven't seeying that so far (if there is a place, please let me know) so I just opened this thread/topic to study the Gospel of Matthew.

I'll be using some study resources like Study Bibles, Commentaries and so on, mine are in spanish but I'll translate (it will help me with my english/spanish) and I'll like to know from you, what commentaries, study bibles and other resources you consider good so I could try to buy them online or if available using Logos Bible Software.

Thank you!

J.S.

 

KJV - Goslpel of Matthew - Chapter 1

1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 1

CULTURAL NOTES:

Matthew 1:1
Is the book (biblion) of the generation of Jesus Christ.
The first phrase of Mattehew is also used in Genesis 5:1 in the LXX.
The greek term Christos and in Hebew Meshiah means the same and are
synonyms.Meaning: "anointed"
The change of order from the name of David to Abraham es deliberated, Matthew wants to clearly communicate Jesus identity as King.

Matthew 1:3
The jews didnt counted woman and childrens in public meetings, either in their generations.
Matthew is doing it as a symbol to dignify woman, he names five:

1. Thamar the cananite (Gen. 38:13-30),
2. Rachab the prostitute (Jos. 2:1),
3. Ruth the moabite (Ruth. 1:3),
4. Bathsheba is mentioned anonimously (2 Sam. 11) and
5. Mary the mother of Jesus

Matthew 1:18
En the jewish cultural, marriage consisted of the following:
First they celebrated the betrothal, a year of legal commitment, the couple didn't have sexual relations.
Then, the wedding ceremony/party,
Primero se celebraba el desposorio, un año de compromiso legal, aunque la pareja no convivía sexualmente todavía.
Luego la fiesta de bodas, that lasted 7 days, and in which the center of maximum attention was the boyfriend
Finally, the marriage consummation, properly said.
The bethothal was as binding as the marriage consumation, divorce was needed to end it.

Matthew 1:19
Righteous (dikaios) refers to the sense of being pious in observing the sound ethics and morals of Jewish law.
Joseph had the legal and moral prerogatives to divorce Mary on the grounds of adultery.
If she admitted her fault, she could be tried in private with two witnesses; she could be tried by a Jewish court made up of three rabbis to obtain a divorce.
As the pregnancy was going to denounce her, God intervened directly.

Matthew 1:21
The name Jesus ordained by the angel (in Aramaic Yeshúa and in Greek Iesous) means “God is salvation”.
This name was very common among the Jews, so it is not extraordinary in itself, but the bearer who is the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of all things would be.
Almost all of the stories in Matthew 1 and 2 are circumscribed by God's supernatural guidance through dreams, angels, stars, and supernatural events.


TEXTUAL NOTES

Matthew 1:2-16
The structure of the genealogy is presented in three groups of fourteen, and is probably due to the fact that the numerical value of the name David in the Hebrew alphabet is fourteen.
This Jewish cultural practice of giving names meaning based on their numerical value was called gematria. Fourteen has the idea of complete.

Matthew 1:23
Virgin is the correct translation of the Greek parthenos, which appears in the LXX in the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. The term can also be translated as "maiden, pure, chaste."
Matthew, like the translators of the LXX, translates the Hebrew term almah by the Greek parthenos, the one used in Isaiah 7:14.
Matthew is the only one who uses the term Immanuel, which beyond the immediate prophetic fulfillments, pointed to the messianism of Jesus, who finally fulfilled the prophecy.

HERMENEUTICAL NOTES

Matthew 1:16
In reference to Joseph, Matthew does not use the word begot (egennesen) and it is the only time he omits it, and clarifies, based on biological reality, that Jesus was not the son of Joseph, strictly speaking.
However, Matthew has supported the argument of the legal right to the throne by Jesus as legitimate heir.

Matthew 1:17
The order and structure of the genealogy of Matthew seems to have a didactic purpose since it encourages memorization. The division of history into periods was common in Jewish culture.
For example, Second Baruch (a Jewish apocalypse dating from the late first and early second centuries) divides history into fourteen different epochs.

Matthew 1:18-25
Both Matthew and Luke affirm the virginal conception of Jesus (1:18-25, cf. Lk. 1:26-38). In order to be the perfect substitute for humanity, Jesus had to be a man, a human being with all the characteristics of such. In order to have the ability to forgive sins and the innate ability to live without sin, he had to be God. The virginal conception manages to merge the two natures into one person (hypostatic union): Jesus.

[END]

 

Thank you Salty!

 

Thank you all for your comments so far about Matthew - Chapter 1.
I'll continue now with Chapter #2, but anyone is welcome to share about previous chapters as you join the study.
God bless you!
J.S.

 

KJV - Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 2

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 2

CULTURAL NOTES

Matthew 2:1
2:1 Geographically Matthew's gospel covers a fairly narrow section of territory.
For example:
1-2, Bethlehem, Egypt and Nazareth;
3- 4:11, Jordan River Valley;
4:12, 13, Galilee;
14-18, northern Galilee;
19-20, journey to Jerusalem;
21-28, Jerusalem.
Bethlehem, the first place mentioned, was a small village south of Jerusalem, which Hebrew scholars had clearly identified as the birthplace of the Messiah (cf. Mic 5:2; Matt. 2:5; John 7:42).

2:1 In 525 AD. C., in Rome at the request of Bishop John I, a Scythian monk named Dionysius Exiguos drew up a new calendar different from the Greco-Roman one that was based on the date of foundation of the city of Rome (ab urbe condita, AUC).
His reference was "the year of the Lord" (Anno Domini) which dated to 754 AUC, but he was wrong, as Herod died in 750 AUC. So, possibly, Jesus was born between the years 6-4 BC. C.

Matthew 2:2
2:2 Some have suggested that the star was a supernova or a planetary conjunction but, from its movements and the dwelling on the house, it is better to assume that it was a supernatural sign from God similar to the Shekinah glory that led the Israelites through the wilderness in the days of Moses (Ex. 13:21).
On the other hand, the ancients believed that fleeting stars and comets could predict the fall of kingdoms.

Matthew 2:8
2:8 Bethlehem ("house of bread") also called Ephrata (cf. Gen. 35:19) was the city of King David's ancestors, the site of Rachel's burial, and the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah (Miq. 5:2).
Herod's deception resembles that of another tyrant: Pharaoh who instructed midwives to kill Hebrew male children (Ex. 1:16).

Matthew 2:16
2:16 Herod orders the children to be killed, calculating the time of his interview with the Magi (cf. Matt. 2:7).
The historian Josephus does not mention this fact, however, because of Herod's known cruelty, and because the number of victims was probably not large (perhaps twenty or less), the fact may have gone unnoticed in history.
Augustus Caesar said that it was better to be a pig of Herod than to be the son of Herod (the Greek word for pig is hus, and the Greek word for son is huios, which have a very similar pronunciation) because he was bloodthirsty with his own children.

Matthew 2:22
2:22 Archelaus, appointed by Augustus, had a short and bad rule (4 BC-6 AD) over Judea, Idumea and Samaria, as an ethnarch (i.e., little less than king).
In his administration there was a rebellion in Jerusalem during Passover.
Three thousand people died at the hands of his soldiers, and this fact probably must have contributed to Joseph's decision to move to the northern region of Galilee of the Gentiles.


HERMENEUTICAL NOTES

Matthew 2:6
2:6 This prophecy combines Micah 5:2 with 2 Samuel 5:2 and 1 Chronicles 11:12, and emphasizes Matthew's thesis that the King of the kingdom has a dual ruling character: King and Shepherd. (Personal note added: Justice and Grace)
The Greek word for ruler (egoumenos) evokes the image of strength, resolve, and leadership.
Shepherding (poimanei) emphasizes rather the idea of care and consolation.
Christ's eschatological government will contemplate these two aspects (cf. Rev. 12:5; 21:3ff.).
(Personal note added: God's character is the same since the book of Genesis, he is King, he applies justice, but he is also our Shepherd, Psalm 91, he always cares and provides Grace.)

Matthew 2:15
2:15 Matthew implies that Jesus in his person recapitulates the history of Israel (Matt. 2:18; 4:1-11), and repeats the religious experience of leaving Egypt.
Since that country was the place of asylum of the Israel of old, now it is the place of asylum of the Anointed One. Matthew uses Hosea to reaffirm, in parallelism, the fact that Jesus is the liberating Messiah, whose birth and childhood are supernaturally protected just as Israel was.


TEXTUAL NOTES

Matthew 2:11
2:11 The word paidion for child is used here, and not creature (brefos) as Luke 2:16 does. So Jesus, because of his age, had already been moved from the manger to the house a long time ago.


ARCHAEOLOGICAL NOTES

Matthew 2:22,23
2:23 - Archaeological evidence in the region of Nazareth indicates that many people had moved there from Judea, from the area near Bethlehem. Joseph may have had friends or family in Nazareth (Luke 2:4).
There is no single text in the OT for the reference of Nazarene.


ETHICAL ARTICLE
Matthew 2:13
2:13 - That humble carpenter was a protagonist of the incarnation of God, and is a true model of man, husband, believer and father. As a man he fell in love with the very woman on whom God had set his eyes; he honored Mary's motherhood and rescued her even at the cost of his social image.

As a husband he was serene and thoughtful.
As a believer he was obedient and God-fearing, we never find a word of reproach on his lips.
As a father, he protected Jesus' life in a society where the value of children was negligible.
He prepared Jesus for life, instructed him, and presented him to God as an offering.


APOLOGETIC ARTICLE
Matthew 2:16
2:16 The birth of the King while another was in office was a declaration of war.
This triggered unprecedented political conflict in the Jewish nation.
More so when that King was coming from God, a fact that had only one antecedent in Jewish history: David, a king made after God's own heart, who supernaturally intervened to protect his own incarnation by directing the steps of Joseph and the Magi. Herod's reaction was what he was used to: Kill anyone who crossed his vain interests, as he did with his own children. The killing of the children was an unnecessary massacre, yet it is recorded in history as mute and sad evidence of the historicity of Jesus.

MAP - Flee into Egypt


ARTICLE - THE WISE MEN OF THE EAST

Only Matthew mentions them.
Despite having a rather enigmatic profile, these men are not at all equivalent to the characters we call "magicians" today.
They were probably astronomers of the time.
The Greek word for magicians is magoi, and it was used to generally describe men of science such as doctors, astronomers, philosophers, among others.
These wise men from the East were not in the manger, Matthew tells that they arrived at the house where the baby Jesus was with his parents.
Furthermore, the fact that Herod the Great ordered all children under the age of two to be killed (cf. Matt. 2:16), suggests that this event did not occur at the birth of Jesus, but many months later.
Contrary to the Christian tradition, Matthew says nothing about the number of the wise men, nor anything about their identity such as their names; even less any detail about the color of his skin. Matthew also does not specify that they were “kings”.
What the Apostle does describe with complete precision are at least three fundamental things: the place of origin, the purpose of their visit and the gifts they brought. They came from the east. Probably from the ancient region of Babylon, Media and Persia. They came to worship him (Matt. 2:2; 2:11). This gesture can speak of your true conviction; being pagans they now understood who the true King was. They offered Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh, gifts fit for a king. The birth of the King of kings could not be outside the majestic coming of the stars and the great cosmos that he himself had created. This supernatural event illustrates the universal character of Immanuel's person, message, and work.

 

KJV - Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 3

3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

 

Hello Austin.
Thanks for your participation and interest in this Bible Study
I'm aware of the other messages from other people who participated so far, I have no additional comment about them, I'm thankful about the other commentaries provided and even the files.

If you are looking for my perspective of Matthew 1, here it is:

I like it starts with our Lords generations; it is a formal presentation of our King.

Marriage lessons from this chapter
Then the narrative moves to Jesus' birth, Joseph is really good to Mary, doesn't want to cause her any problems, even do he is the one that will suffer or is suffering since most likely she sinned (from his perspective, before the angel appeared to him); for those of us who are married this is an example maybe a hard one maybe just a reminder of to what lengths we should forgive our partners (wives) their faults (we also do or could do the same to them so, we aren't perfect).

[Prayer - Always pray for direction]
It is not clear if Joseph was praying about this situation with Mary, could be; if so then the example is to always put every situation we have, especially in our marriage, in the hands of God.
If he wasn't praying about it (the Bible, the Gospels doesn't go deep about if this is the case or not), then we should also take it as an example, not to follow, since again we must put all situations in the hands of God in prayer.

[Talk to your partner - Don't assume]
It looks like he just assumed what happened, it is not clear in the Bible and Gospel if he tried to talk to her about the problem, it looks like it is not the case, he assumed based on hard logic what happened and out of love tried to do the best for Mary without pride or with a spirit of vengeance.

[God has mercy and sends messengers to us]
Also, we can see God had mercy about the relationship between Joseph and Mary and them, because before Joseph started acting according to his "thoughts" when he was just having them, God sent his angel to clarify everything.
Sometimes God is merciful with us, and while we are thinking wrong about our partners, he sends an angel (not necessarily a celestial one, but a Messager, a person) to clarify what is going on and stop us to starting according to our wrong thoughts.
Sometimes we aren't getting an angel or messenger, but he can speak with God reading his word, looking for answers.

[Act as you are told by the Lord not by your thoughts]
Joseph changed his perspective based on the Lord's message, and he acted accordingly.
Sometimes we might try to act according to our thoughts, we might even believe we are being as just and fair to the other person as we could possibly be and that we are following the best approach based on our Lords word, but stop, and go back to Bible, make sure you will act not according to our thoughts but according to God's revealed message from the Bible.

Jesus' brothers and sisters
Verse 25 closed with the never-ending battle about Jesus' brothers and sisters.
We think they are definitely brothers and sisters of Jesus, and that Mary is their mother and Joseph the real father of all of them.
The Orthodox (OC) think they are half brothers and sisters from a previous marriage of Joseph
and the Roman Catholic (RCC) thing, these are cousins...
I'm not going to continue this way since our position is they are real blood brothers and sisters from Joseph and Mary marriage based on this, and other verses in the New Testament + some Theologians from the RCC and the OC say there is not enough evidence to back their claims about half-brothers and sister or cousins.

Prophetic evidence - Jesus is the Messiah.
From the very beginning Matthew starts pointing out, fulfilled prophecies showing the reader that Jesus is the Messiah.
The evidence we will be getting are based on the word of God in the Old Testament, not Jewish traditions.

Generations Information - About: Number 14.
I liked the commentary about the number 14 in the Bible Study commentary, it clarifies the generations passages and intention of Matthew.

How to continue this Bible Study?
Let me know if this helps Justin.

Also, my intention was to talk about a Chapter per day so we could talk about each one, also more people could join later and send their comments.

I wasn't able to send a comment yesterday so I owed 1 chapter plus the one today and the one tomorrow, this means I'll try yo cover chapters 3 and 4 tomorrow so the thread will we up to date.

I'm using a study bible for the commentaries, and I'm sharing them so you can see it, also if other participantes want to share from other commentaries or resources they are welcome to do so, in that way we all can nutre the Bible Study.

Using this approach, it will take 28 days to cover the 28 chapters of Matthew's Gospel.
After that we could keep commenting and adding more resources, also new people could join us.

Please, feel free to share any other approach you think could help us all to grow during this Bible Study.

God bless you brother.

J.S.